Renal Function in Patients Undergoing Nephrectomies for Benign and Malignant Causes: An Expected Outcome

Abstract

Objective: to assess the evolution of serum creatinine in patients undergoing radical nephrectomy (malignant) or total (benign), to identify risk factors connected with an unfavorable renal function outcome. Material and Methods: observational, transversal and retrospective study, through analysis of records and lab exams of 146 patients undergoing nephrectomy from January 2015 to December 2018. Results: Statistically significant difference was found between etiology and patients’ age (p-value < 0.001). Mean age of patients with malignant etiology (59.4 years) was significantly higher than the mean age of patients with benign etiology (47.3 years). As for the surgical technique, 49 had video-laparoscopic (VLP) nephrectomy. The main causes of nephrectomy were renal cancer (52%) and lithiasis (35.6%). Most patients had a fairly uneventful postoperative course (65%). There was a statistically significant difference between etiology and creatinine levels, with a significantly lower creatinine median in the patients with malignant etiology as compared to benign etiology in the preoperative period. Conclusion: This study shows that a large number of young patients undergo nephrectomy, many times avoidable; within a benign disease context with an increased risk of developing renal failure. Greater attention from the public service is required to tackle such chronic condition and its complications.